Jesper de Jong thanks the viewers on the middle court docket.© Photograph EPA
From our reporter
As we speak at 6:03 PM
Paris
Jesper de Jong has stolen a set from Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros. The debutant from Hoofddorp fought bravely, however needed to admit his superiority to the quantity three on the planet within the second spherical with 6-3, 6-4, 2-6 and 6-2.
The match was performed on the Court docket Philippe Chatrier, the principle court docket in Paris. The roof was closed for the whole match because of the dangerous climate. The match lasted greater than three hours. Alcaraz had a a lot more durable time than within the opening spherical, when he misplaced solely 4 video games to the American Jeffrey John Wolf.
© AFP Photograph
De Jong took a brutal 2-0 lead at the beginning of the match, however couldn’t get pleasure from it for lengthy. He was damaged again at 2-0 with a love sport and within the the rest he surrendered his service sport twice extra. Within the second set, De Jong managed to remain at 4-4. With a 5-4 lead, the Spaniard did use his first break level of the sport, additionally the set level.
Increase degree
The match appeared over, however De Jong managed to boost his degree and gained 4 video games in a row from 1-1, partly as a result of the Spaniard began making extra pointless errors. De Jong concerned the viewers and convincingly gained the third set after quite a lot of good exchanges of blows within the remaining part.
© AFP Photograph
Within the early levels of the fourth set, De Jong was handled on his higher left leg, however he managed to win the service sport in opposition to the reigning Wimbledon champion twice. After Alcaraz canceled each breaks, he gained 4 video games in a row.
Compliments
Afterwards, De Jong, who left the court docket to a standing ovation, obtained compliments from his opponent. “I’m satisfied that he’ll attain the highest 100,” Alcaraz mentioned in his interview afterwards.
Jesper de Jong congratulates Carlos Alcaraz on his victory.© Photograph AFP
That has not occurred but, however the present quantity 176 on the planet will return to the highest 150 after Roland Garros. After his 4 victories in Paris, together with the qualifying match, he rose about thirty locations. He’s in 146th place on the ATP dwell rankings. Final 12 months De Jong, who celebrates his twenty fourth birthday this Friday, was quantity 135 on the planet.
He earned 110,000 euros by reaching the second spherical.
Additionally learn: De Jong surprises Briton Draper within the first spherical of Roland Garros: ‘Maybe the most effective match of my profession up to now’